*Nigeria鈥檚 Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigns a fresh batch of 20 foreign nationals, including 15 Filipinos, an Indonesian and four Chinese, before the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos for suspected cybercrime, and attempts to destabilise the West African country鈥檚 soci0-economic architecture

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Sequel to credible intelligence by the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said it arraigned another batch of 20 foreign nationals before the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos for alleged cybercrime, and attempts to destabilise the country鈥檚 soci0-economic architecture.

绿帽献妻 gathered the EFCC Thursday, February 20, 2025, arraigned the defendants, 15 Filipinos, an Indonesian and four Chinese nationals before Justice Musa Kakaki.

The 20 more defendants are said to be part of total 193 foreign nationals earlier arrested December 2024, alongside 599 Nigerians in a surprise operation at their hideout, Big Leaf Building, on Victoria Island, Lagos, following credible intelligence by the Commission.

Nwandu Ukoha, counsel to the EFCC, at the arraignment, asked that the charges against the defendants be read so that they could take their plea.

Through an interpreter, the charge was read and all the defendants in their separate counts pleaded not guilty.

Some of the foreigners arraigned are: Kayceelyn Remorin, Jonylyn Agulto, Donny Hermanto, Guo Bin, Darwa Esmael, Lari Jane Tayac, Jhena Samiento, Jessa Sai Chui, Rain Torida, Kimbaley Nisperos, Winnie De Jesus, Shairah May Reyes, Gladys Joy May Iba, Jean Calaga, Huo Wen Jie, Zhao Sui Tao, Gong An Penguna Yua and Anjeannet Topacio.

Justice Kakaki read: 鈥淭he two-count charge against the defendants alleges that they and Genting International Company Limited on or about the 18th of December, 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court willfully caused to be accessed, computer systems organised to seriously destabilise the economic and social structure of Nigeria (which prohibits and prevents cyber and related crimes) when they procured/employed Nigerian youths for identity theft and to hold themselves out as persons of foreign nationality, with the intent to gain financial advantage for themselves and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024).鈥�

The defendants were also alleged to have sometime December last year, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with the intent to gain financial advantage for their employer fraudulently impersonated and hold themselves out as such, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) and 27(1)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.

Ukoha also asked the court to remand the defendants in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service, pending trial.

Lawyers representing the defendants, Bridget Omoteno and BA Ukpai, however, opposed him.

The defendants鈥� lawyers prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable the defendants to explore the possibility of a plea bargain with the prosecution.

After listening to the parties, Justice Kakaki, however, granted the prosecutor鈥檚 request and remanded the defendants in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services鈥� pending trial.

The court later adjourned to March 18th and 20th, 2025, for possible trial.